- To ease freight operations & to accommodate Longer Haul Goods trains

- This is the second longer loop over the zone

To enhance train operations, ease congestion and to accommodate long haul goods trains with additional wagons than the standard composition, SCR has commissioned a longer loop line at Navabpalem Railway Station of Vijayawada Division located o­n the Grand trunk route of Vijayawada – Visakhapatnam section. This is the second longer loop that has been constructed o­n the Zone, the first o­ne being at Bikkavolu station.

In Railways, loop lines are constructed in station area to handle more number of trains and to ease out the train operations. Normally, the loop lines at a station are constructed with a length of 750 meters which can accommodate a full-length goods train with multiple engines. With the increasing need to transport huge quantities at a o­ne go, it has necessitated to handle longer trains having more number of wagons than the regular composition. To mitigate this problem, Indian Railways has been encouraging the construction of Longer Loop lines of around 1500 meters (which is double than the existing loop line lengths).

Considering the importance of longer loop lines, Ministry of Railways has accorded sanction for construction of Longer Loops at six stations of Vijayawada Division viz., Bikkavolu, Navabpalem & Elamanchili in Vijayawada – Visakhapatnam section and Nidubrolu, Ammanabrolu & Bitragunta in Vijayawada – Chennai section. Out of these, now, two longer loops have been commissioned i.e., At Bikkavolu and Navabpalem stations. Works are in the fast progress at the remaining locations.

Salient features of Longer Loop line at Navabpalem station

v The Electronic interlocking system has been provided with 70 routes.

v Advanced Axle counters have been provided for Intermediate Block signals located in Navabpalem - Tadepalligudem & Navabpalem - Nidadavolu sections.

v The Central Interlocking system, Data loggers are provided with modern equipment.

v Fire alarm facility is provided for enhanced protection.

v The execution of works has been done with meticulous planning duly completing the NI work within seven days as against scheduled period of 9 days.

v 2 sets of Unimat machines and T-28 Cranes have been used at the site for faster work.

v The main line and loop line of the station have been provided with separate elementary sections to facilitate independent OHE blocks.

Benefits of Longer Loop Lines

v Will accommodate long haul trains like Jai Kisan specials where 2 freight trains are combined and run for quick mobility

v Provision for crossing of trains to enable faster movement of trains without too much detention of freight trains

v Improves punctuality of passenger trains by avoiding main line regulation of Goods trains

v Improves overall train operations.

v Reduces the wagon detention and travel expenses.

v Enables in handling more number of trains.

Shri Gajanan Mallya, General Manger, SCR complimented the officials of Vijayawada Division o­n completion of second longer loop line over the Zone with sincere and dedicated efforts. He instructed the officials to complete the remaining longer loop lines o­n fast pace for overall improvement in operation of freight trains in the busy trunk route section.